Is VCE fair?

[zomgSEAN]

I don't think English should be necessarily in the top 4. It is more about natural talent than anything. You can spend 24/7 studying for English and still not get near to 100%. I think VCE should be more about hard work than natural talent and by having english compulsory in top 4 it makes an unfair advantage. I know someone who does barely any work for English so he can concentrate on other subjects he is not so good at and still gets over 90% in most SACs. I know someone else who is average at English and does a couple of hours a night for it and has not got over 80% for one SAC. Because of this it also gives the ones better at English more time to study for other subjects. Also people say that we need it because it is our national language, fair enough but what do we actually learn in VCE English that we can apply the real world? The answer is not much. When in the real world are we going to need to write an expository essay about AMFAS or write an essay about the imaginative landscape? Very rarely at most. If VCAA have it set in their mind that a subject should be compulsory then why not make it Business Mgt, Health and HD, Legal studies or Accounting? These are subjects yuor are likely to need in real life!
Rant over

English is not just about increasing your skills in essay writing. The beauty and usefulness of VCE English is the way it expands your ability to express your ideas, perspectives and construct opinions on a wide range of media, including film, novels, poems and societal, ethical and political issues.

The compulsory essay structure is merely the framework they want you to express your ideas within; it doesn't have a HUGE lot to do with the essence of VCE English itself.

[Russ]

And because i know i can rationalise away slip-ups, i will enter exams with less stress.

You will enter exams with the same amount of stress, but you'll be able to "justify" low marks.

[TrueTears]

Since the topic is about whether vce is fair or not, having one compulsory subject definitely makes it fairer relative to some of the other systems out there which often have 4 or 5 compulsory subjects.

to be honest
in australia .. i cannot think of any programs which use 3-4?
maybe in countries like china etc.

but i mean
in canberra ... english isnt in the top 4.
in nsw .. i believe english is compulsory.
vic it is

and dunno bout the others.

yeh.

[zomgSEAN]

And because i know i can rationalise away slip-ups, i will enter exams with less stress.

You will enter exams with the same amount of stress, but you'll be able to "justify" low marks.

I will enter with less stress, as i will know that if i do make mistakes, they can be compensated for in later assessments.

If we are to continue like so, we will be here for eternity.

[bomb]

And because i know i can rationalise away slip-ups, i will enter exams with less stress.

You will enter exams with the same amount of stress, but you'll be able to "justify" low marks.

I will enter with less stress, as i will know that if i do make mistakes, they can be compensated for in later assessments.

If we are to continue like so, we will be here for eternity.

For anyone who doesnt understand, think about the stress before a SAC..it's not much right? That's because theres quite a few of them and they're not worth as much individually.

[Russ]

And because i know i can rationalise away slip-ups, i will enter exams with less stress.

You will enter exams with the same amount of stress, but you'll be able to "justify" low marks.

I will enter with less stress, as i will know that if i do make mistakes, they can be compensated for in later assessments.

If we are to continue like so, we will be here for eternity.

Except I'm speaking from experience of multiple exams per semester. You get just as worked up about them because they're...well...exams, under exam conditions. Just because they're only worth 10% doesn't stop anyone freaking out over them.

Eh, not like it really matters.

[zomgSEAN]

And i also speak from experience. The experience of SACs; still worth proportions of the SS, but relatively low; the stress is proportionate to such.

Stress is a relatively subjective experience, both in nature and extent, hence the disagreement in our perspectives.

[m@tty]

SACs are nothing like exams.

[Russ]

SACs are nothing like exams.

[bomb]

SACs are nothing like exams.

Because of the differences zomgSEAN wishes to get rid of.

[m@tty]

For the majority SACs are "just another class test". Exams are entirely different; the fact that they are externally set and marked, that they are above and beyond your own school's control - that is what creates the (generally) daunting atmosphere of exams(in VCE at least).

[bomb]

For the majority SACs are "just another class test". Exams are entirely different; the fact that they are externally set and marked, that they are above and beyond your own school's control - that is what creates the (generally) daunting atmosphere of exams(in VCE at least).

I getcha, but I was just trying to explain what zomgSEAN was trying to say

Personally I like the whole daunting thing, really brings out the best in me.

[iffets12345]

Things being stressful is unavoidable due to the nature of exams and dependent on the individual. If you cant handle a bit of stress in VCe, GL in real world.

[bomb]

Things being stressful is unavoidable due to the nature of exams and dependent on the individual. If you cant handle a bit of stress in VCe, GL in real world.

Exactly.

[kyzoo]

For the majority SACs are "just another class test". Exams are entirely different; the fact that they are externally set and marked, that they are above and beyond your own school's control - that is what creates the (generally) daunting atmosphere of exams(in VCE at least).

I don't know =/ I do better in exams then SACs